Springfield mayor Domenic J. Sarno bids for 2nd term in office

Staff Photo by Dave Roback Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno listens to speeches before his offical re-election announcement at the Cedar's Banquet Hall in Springfield on Wednesday. His daughters Cassandra J. Sarno is left and Chiara E. Sarno is center. His wife M. Carla Sarno is at right.

SPRINGFIELD - Mayor Domenic J. Sarno on Wednesday night announced his candidacy for re-election before hundreds of supporters at The Cedars social and banquet hall.

"It's hard to believe I stood here in this exact location to announce my candidacy for mayor two years ago," the 46-year-old Sarno said.

Sarno, a former four-term city councilor, defeated incumbent Charles V. Ryan, who was seeking a third term after having also served as mayor in the 1960s, by about 1,150 votes in November 2007 to win the office.

He is now facing City Councilor Bud L. Williams in his re-election bid.

Sarno was introduced by Hampden County District Attorney William M. Bennett, who said of the mayor: "he's been a good advocate and a good representative of the city."

Among others who addressed the audience was Hampden County Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr.

Two years ago Sarno focused on crime and change in defeating Ryan, and earlier this summer the Springfield Finance Control Board ended nearly five years of overseeing all city budgetary and personnel matters, taking over when the city had a $41 million budget deficit.

Sarno attributed his win in 2007 to a grass-roots effort. In a six-month, door-to-door campaign Sarno attended countless community and neighborhood events.

Also among those in attendance for Wednesday night's announcement were City Councilor Kateri Walsh; School Committee members Christopher Collins, Marjorie Hurst, Antonette Pepe, Michael Rodgers; and state Rep. Brian M. Ashe, D-Longmeadow.